BEIJING -- Exports of cultural products rose 16.3 percent in 2012 from the previous year to $21.73 billion, according to customs data.

Exports of visual art accounted for the majority of the exports, taking a 65.4-percent share with a value of $14.21 billion, up 52.5 percent year on year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Exports of published works stood at 2.85 billion yuan in 2012, up 7.1 percent year on year, while exports of musical instruments climbed 6.6 percent to $1.49 billion.

Exports of visual and audio media dropped 44.2 percent year on year to $2.84 billion.

In terms of market growth, exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Africa saw 120 percent year-on-year growth to $1.54 billion and $1.36 billion, respectively. Exports to Latin America also climbed sharply to $1.72 billion with 72.2-percent growth year on year.

Customs departments have been expediting clearance procedures to cut costs for cultural enterprises that wish to export their products.

Customs authorities confiscated 97.18 million goods that violated intellectual property laws in 2012.

China's foreign trade growth slowed to 6.2 percent in 2012 from the previous year, missing the government's 10-percent target.